Chapter 3

The next day, I was awakened by the discordant sounds of an orchestra downstairs, thinking I was still in a nightmare.

I pushed open the window. The manor's lawn was already covered in flowers and red carpets.

They were holding a celebration for the anniversary of my mother's charitable foundation.

I was confused. No one had bothered with the charity for years after my mother died.

I had been managing it myself, but never with such a public spectacle.

Through the floor-to-ceiling window, I saw my mother's favorite rose garden. Caterina stood where my mother used to.

The woman was dressed in a couture white gown, arm in arm with my father, accepting toasts from guests.

The butler stood at the door, his eyes avoiding mine. "This was the Don's idea. He said he wanted to continue the Collins's charitable work."

"He also said... he wants to rename the foundation for Caterina."

I opened my door, just in time to hear the gossip drifting up from downstairs.

"Did you hear? Management of the famous Collins charity trust has been handed over to Caterina."

"And the mistress's illegitimate daughter, Sarah, has taken the Collins name. Looks like she's about to become the new lady of the house."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Caterina wore a wronged expression.

"Although Evangeline might have some misunderstandings about me, I swear to God I will protect this family in her mother's place."

"As long as I can take care of Marco and the children in her stead, and look after the charity, a little misunderstanding is nothing."

I gripped the railing so hard my knuckles turned white.

She had positioned herself as the matriarch, showing no respect for my mother.

At that moment, Vincent walked over with Sarah on his arm. The instant he saw me, he dropped Sarah's arm and strode toward me.

"You're awake, my princess."

He cut me off before I could speak, dropping to one knee, his eyes full of the practiced devotion of a movie star.

He opened a red velvet box. Inside lay a massive, rare blue diamond.

"Oh my God! It's 'The Heart of True Love'!" someone exclaimed. "The one that sold for a fortune last week!"

Vincent kissed the back of my hand, his voice gentle enough to melt steel.

"This is to make it up to you, Evie, for being so busy last night."

In the past, every time I threw a tantrum, he would appease me with a rare diamond.

My vault was now filled with rings of every color.

But now, looking at the cold stone, I felt nothing.

Priceless treasures, a devoted husband.

It was all just sugar-coated poison.

Vincent put the ring on my finger, then leaned close to my ear. "Smile, Evie. The press is here. Don't embarrass the family."

I forced a stiff smile, but my gaze went past his shoulder, locking onto Sarah's hands.

She was toying with a string of pearls.

Those were wild pearls my mother and I had gathered, one by one, on a beach in Sicily.

They weren't valuable, but they were my last tangible connection to her.

"Give them back." I pushed Vincent away and walked toward Sarah.

Vincent's expression changed, and he tried to grab me, but I shook off his hand and rushed at Sarah.

"Give. Them. Back."

Sarah feigned alarm, taking a step back. "Sister, why are you being so aggressive?"

She blinked her wide, innocent eyes, but her voice dropped to a whisper only I could hear.

"This piece of junk looks as cheap as your dead mother. Not fit for polite company."

"You bitch!" Blood rushed to my head, and I lunged for the necklace.

Vincent grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight I thought he would crush the bone.

"Evangeline! Are you out of your mind!"

He lowered his voice, his tone laced with impatience.

"This is an important event. Don't embarrass me."

"'The Heart of True Love' isn't enough for you? Why are you making a scene over some worthless pearls?"

"They were from my mother!"

Tears streamed down my face. I completely missed the cruel smile that touched Sarah's lips.

"Sister, don't be angry, I just..."

As she spoke, she pretended to hand me the necklace.

The moment I reached for it, her finger deliberately snagged the string.

Snap. The string broke.

Dozens of pearls scattered across the marble floor.

As if terribly shocked, Sarah dropped to her knees with a thud.

In front of everyone, ignoring her expensive gown, she crawled on the floor, picking up the pearls one by one.

A moment later, she held out the pearls in her cupped hands, looking at me timidly.

"Sister, I'm so sorry. It was all my fault. I didn't know they were from your mother. I picked up every single one. Please, don't be mad at me..."

The guests around us began to whisper, their eyes painting me as some overbearing bully.

"That's just too much."

"Poor Sarah. She's so pitiful."

I knew this was her specialty: playing the victim.

I reached out to help her up, but the moment I touched her, Sarah's body jerked backward, knocking over a tower of champagne glasses.

But as she fell, using the chaos for cover, she gave me a vicious shove.

The champagne glasses toppled. She ended up on the floor looking disheveled but was otherwise unharmed.

But I lost my balance, falling backward toward the sharp corner of the marble fireplace.

An excruciating pain shot through my back, as if someone had shattered my spine with a sledgehammer.

Through a haze of pain, I heard Sarah sobbing. "Sister, I know you look down on me for being illegitimate, but I humbled myself, I begged you to forgive me. Why would you still push me?"

Vincent took off his suit jacket. He paused, his eyes flicking to me on the floor for a second, before he rushed to wrap it around Sarah.

Then, for the first time in public, he rounded on me. "Evangeline. Apologize."